If you’re looking for new artists to fall in love with, you’ve come to the right place. Focus Five returns with its 80th installment and as per usual we’ve got something for everyone. Looking for masterfully crafted downtempo beats? We got you. Looking for a rising star with an affinity for iconic edits and flips? Keep reading. Fancy some breathtaking wave? Scroll a little bit further. Want to learn more about a German artist mixing house and electro with DnB? Of course, you do. In the mood for some dubstep? Why not right? Dive in below.

Alex Unger

Salt Lake City’s Alex Unger blends hip-hop influences with bass music in a way that’s so perfect it made me wonder why the hell we haven’t featured the producer sooner. Taking a laidback downtempo approach to his beats, his works mix soulful samples, hip-hop grooves, deep low-end, and experimental tendencies. His recent single ‘Tell Me’ offers a great introduction to his style with sultry and smooth vocals drifting over silky bass lines, and percussive switch-ups that move from boom bap to liquid DnB. If you’re looking to get fully immersed in his sound Personal is a fitting introduction. The 7 track effort is a captivating expedition into the sonic expanse of his sound. From the moment you press play on ‘Lunatic Dub’ you’ll be transported away to a jazzy, wordly, work of art. The title track uses an incredible Rick Rubin vocal sample that speaks to the importance of individuality as an artist while putting Alex’s personal style on full display. If you’re looking for chilled-out music that is anything but boring, Alex Unger is just what you need in your life.
-C

Clearcast

Discovered through their remix of ‘Primadonna‘, which to this day is still the only Marina remix I enjoy listening to, Clearcast proved to be an endless source of surprises over the past two years. Their arc in 2024 was nothing short of crazy, culminating in a phenomenal opening set for the Skrillex and fred again.. show at the Historic Civic Centre, a Boiler Room set, and a solid streak of original releases (‘I Do‘ is hands down my favourite) and bootlegs (‘Sleepless Dub‘ is unmatched). In terms of productions, 2025 has been quieter for Clearcast so far, but their collaborations with Next To Blue, titled ‘It’s Over’ and their ‘Raingulr’ edit alone are enough to whet our music appetite. While waiting to see if their ‘Clarity’ bootleg made in tandem with Jukaa will come to light in the coming months, you have the chance to get ahead of the game by starting to follow Clearcast today.
-AA

kay.xo

The art behind kay.xo is simply breathtaking to say the least. Her techniques and emotional input always show to the greatest of heights no matter what. Whether it’s her stunning and angelic vocals, or her fantastic arrangement creations, there’s always something new to be heard. Always experimenting while staying true to herself and roots. Implementing such raw and organic melodies, rhythmic patterns, and messages. Taking her listeners down a spiral of pure sanity and retribution through everlasting compositions.

Her luv EP released a little while ago encapsulates everything magical about her purpose and the skills she’s developed throughout her time. From star-striking melodics to atmospheres to bring true tears to your eyes, it’s as if you were never alone in this world thanks to the comfort of each tune displayed. Pure poetry at its finest.

Her most recent release, ‘medicine’ is a true masterpiece to the core. Teleporting you, the main character, to an ocean of fog. Walking through to see what horrors and beauty await you. From the crisp and haunting environment, to vocals you can’t hear anywhere else, the pacing of this track alone will make you simply starstruck. Creating an utter trance of pure brilliance you’ll never ever want to wake up from.
– JD

Maysev

A couple of weeks ago, when ‘Before You’ was featured at the top of my Release Radar, I was surprised to have landed on a new track by The Caracal Project and an artist I had never heard of before: Maysev. I was immediately enthralled by the smooth guitar, the ethereal soundscapes, and the crisp yet relaxed drum and bass textures. While this was a top-tier sound that I had come to expect from The Caracal Project, I was intrigued by Maysev and decided to dig deeper. ‘Before You’ ended up being the second single from the Pilot-released HASS EP, and each track on that project is equally as impressive as the aforementioned single. Drum and bass is at the forefront of the artist’s sound, but tracks such as ‘Cut Me Loose’ and ‘Drown Me’ really border the line with elements of house and even electro, showcasing Maysev’s unique touch on the genre.

Going further back, the German producer’s discography includes an electric collaboration with Phace, a wicked remix for Tom Finster, and a handful of singles and EPs that quickly makes one understand why The Caracal Project was willing to jump on a track with Maysev. He’s an up-and-coming talent that is bound to make waves with every new release.
-SC